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Village school clinches prestigious Anne Frank Award for 2011

A rural North-east primary’s vision of multi-culturalism has won top prize in a competition embracing the legacy of hope embodied in schoolgirl Anne Frank.

The contest, promoting racial and cultural diversity and inclusion, echoes the ethos of the young Dutch girl whose family was persecuted by the Nazis but who dreamed of a world without hatred.

Schools compete annually for the honour of displaying the coveted Anne Frank statue and this year it will take pride of place at Rothienorman School which also collects £200 prize money, courtesy of award supporters Aberdeen-based commercial cleaning specialists Contract Solutions Grampian (CSG).

Their winning entry comprised a scrap book, including photographs taken by 14 pupils from the P4 to P7 classes, detailing a range of activities in the school involving children from nursery right up to those in their final year.

Events, which also involved staff, parents, a local police officer and nurse, included a seven-week World Food Project funded by Grampian NHS through the Hunger for Success initiative, dancing from various countries and dressing in different national costumes. One class decorated its classroom to look like an African landscape and discussed the different people and animals living in Africa.

The Anne Frank Awards are run by Grampian Racial Equality Council (GREC) whose judges praised the project which “clearly promoted racial awareness, inclusion and diversity and demonstrated overcoming racial harassment or bullying”.

Runners-up were pupils from Mintlaw Academy whose project “Unity and Equality” covered a huge range of activities from posters, drawings and presentations on Anne Frank’s story to a short animated film using clay models to demonstrate the consequences of persecution.

The school also receives a cash prize, of £100, from Contract Solutions Grampian (CSG) who became involved in the awards as a result of their own large multi-cultural staff.

CSG’s commercial director Calum Johnston said: “It’s really gratifying to see not only all the hard work put in by the youngsters but the fact that they are actively doing something positive to celebrate diversity and promote equality and harmony.”

Sgt Nicola Jones of Grampian Police, who organised the awards during her secondment to GREC, said the standard was so high this year that it was decided to award Highly Commended certificates to three other deserving entries. They are Portlethen Academy and Aberdeen schools, St Machar Academy and St Peter’s Primary School.

The winners of the awards, which are also supported by Aberdeen Football Club, Grampian Fire and Rescue, Costco and the Dutch Consulate, received their prizes at a ceremony, presided over by Aberdeen’s Lord Provost Peter Stephen, at Aberdeen Football Club’s Pittodrie Stadium.

For further information about Grampian Racial Equality Council visit www.grec.co.uk

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